Kwara State to Emerge as Africa's Innovation Hub, Says Commissioner

Date: 2024-12-07

The Commissioner for Business, Innovation, and Tourism in Kwara State, Damilola Adelodun, has expressed confidence in the state's potential to emerge as a global hub for high technology and innovation, akin to Silicon Valley in California, USA.

Adelodun highlighted the state's strategic investments in tech infrastructure and innovation hubs, which he believes will attract world-class companies and position Kwara as a leader in the tech ecosystem.

Silicon Valley, renowned as the headquarters for tech giants such as Apple Inc., HP Inc., eBay, and Netflix, serves as an inspiration for Kwara's vision to transform its economy through technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

Speaking about the activities of her ministry, Adelodun said, “In terms of legacy, one of the key projects I have been lucky to head is the Ilorin Innovation Hub. It is more of a large ICT centre, which is arguably the biggest in West Africa. We also have a partnership with IHS Towers, and there is a fund of about N1bn earmarked for the running and for the programmes, training, as well as start-ups and venture capitals that would come here. We have a mandate to at least bring up two unicorns before the end of 2025.”

Reacting to critics who are of the opinion that the state is not a technology hub and should focus on other pressing issues, the young and beautiful government official said, “Interestingly enough, Kwara State has a big tech community. There are a lot of tech businesses started by Kwarans, including Kuda Bank. So, in terms of a tech hub, Kwara is it, and we want it to be the next Silicon Valley. If you think tech, we want you to think Kwara; not Lagos or Abuja. That is the vision for Ilorin Innovation Hub.”

Shedding more light on why the state recently hosted the Best of Nollywood Awards, the commissioner said, “The Sugar Film Factory, where the event was held, is under the purview of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology. People often forget that entertainment and culture have a business element to them. That was why we refurbished the rundown facility, which used to be a sugar factor. The studio is currently equipped for news, podcast and movie productions. We also have a training institute for youths, actors and filmmakers.

“In sponsoring and hosting BON, we looked at the benefit it could bring to the state, especially in terms of showcasing Kwara. I think it was very successful and we are looking forward to have more in the state.

“Many of the actors, filmmakers and creatives who attended the event loved what they saw, and many of them already have plans to do things in the state.”

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ahmad Ali     Ilorin South Constituency     Park     Dagbalodo     Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Malete     Third Estate     Saka Isau     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Kola Bukoye     Funmi Salau     Nigeria Customs Service     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Ado Bayero     Ajia-Bako     Saliu Tunde Bello     Toyin Falola     ER-KANG     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Ilorin East     Kulende-UITH     Kale Kawu     Michael Ologundea     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Kwara State Television     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Mufti Of Ilorin     Suleman Abubakar     AGILE Programme     Kazeem Adekanye     Erubu     KWAFFA     Onilorin     Mazars Consulting     Baba-Isale     Demola Banu     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Olateju Lukman     GANZY     Bursary     Haliru Dantoro     Abubakar Suleiman     Osi     Matthew Babaoye     Hassan Oyeleke     GRA     Mohammed Abduraheem     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Patience Jonathan     Toyin Abdullahi     Okanlawon Taiwo     Ishaq Oloyede     Moses Salami     Yetunde Balogun     Agboola Abdulraheem     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Iponrin     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Agbarere     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Ilorin Muslim Community     Yusuf Badmus     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Kwarareports     Alore     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Kwara University Of Education     Kwara Liberation Group     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Wahab Agbaje    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Quareeb     Abdulwaheed Musa     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Medview Airlines     Funke Adedoyin     Awodun     Aremu Bose Deborah     Sun Qing Rong     Noah Yusuf     Oke Sunna     Olofa Of Offa     VADA     Abiodun Oyedepo     Ndakene     Adesoye College     Yusuf Abdulraheem     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     New Model Police Station     Awoye     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Balogun-Ojomu     Muhammadu Buhari     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     New Naira Notes     Abdulazeez Arowona     Olushola Saraki     Bello Oyebanji     Michael Ologundea     Saba Mamman Daniel     Oyedepo     Ilorin Like-Minds     Hajj     Ahmad Ali     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Yakubu Dogara     Folaranmi Aro     Nurudeen Mohammed     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Boko Haram     Salake     Tunde Saad     Mustapha Olanipekun     Harmony Holdings     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Lai Mohammed     Reuben Paraje     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Ilorin Curfew     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     James Ayeni     Sheikh Ariyibi     Okasanmi Ajayi     Olaoye B. Felix     TESCOM 2025     Oloje     Guber Aspirant     CBT     Dan Iya     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Abdulrazaq Adebayo     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Ahman Pategi     Adegoke Bamidele     Aisha Gobir     Tafida Of Ilorin     Odolaye Aremu     Simeon Ajibola     All Peoples Party     Undergraduate Bursary     Niguel Gallando Marcias     New Nigeria People’s Party     Labaeka     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     Toyin Sanusi     Government High School Adeta